Palestine - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Palestine cover image

Palestine

July 7, 2026

Ramallah 5:37 am

20°C

Government Media Office Director Ismail Thawabteh (R) and Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem (L) speak at a press conference.

Explainer

What does Hamas' move to dissolve its Gaza government mean?

Hamas has agreed to hand civilian administration over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but the committee is not yet in Gaza and may not deploy until Hamas’ disarmament is resolved.

Joint List Party leader Ayman Odeh attends a meeting on April 5, 2021 in Jerusalem, Israel.

Interview

Ayman Odeh says Arab parties could back Bennett or Eisenkot to block Netanyahu

In an interview with Al-Monitor, head of the Arab-Israeli Hadash-Ta'al Knesset faction, Ayman Odeh, said his party is prepared to make difficult decisions to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Ayman Odeh

Head of the Knesset's Hadash-Ta'al faction

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Who is Melat Kiros, the pro-Palestinian who unseated a longtime Democrat?

Kiros has taken a hard stance against Israel and opposes all aid to the country as pro-Palestinian candidates make further inroads in the party.

Israeli security forces attempt to disperse Palestinians who had gathered to protest the reported burning of land by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Idna, west of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on June 5, 2026.

Amnesty International accuses Israel of state-led ethnic cleansing in West Bank

In a new report, Amnesty International said that the escalating forced displacement and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is part of a state-led campaign to control the Palestinian territory.

Latest News

Ireland bans hard-line Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich: What to know

Israeli policemen surround Israeli Minister of National Security and far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir as he arrives outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Record Israeli arms exports highlight global rush for air defense

People stand in front of the Arrow 3 shield system during an event of the German Air Force to declare the Initial Operating Capability for the Arrow Weapon System for Germany at the Annaburger Heide Air Base in Schoenewalde / Holzdorf, eastern Germany, on Dec. 3, 2025.

With Hungary’s ICC U-turn, Israel loses a key European ally

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (R) shakes hands with Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, during a news conference on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.

Who was Mohammed Odeh, Hamas military commander killed by Israel in Gaza?

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Fatima AbdulKarim

In Ramallah, reporting on the West Bank

An Israeli soldier gestures at the scene of an attack near the Jewish settlement of Eli.

Four Israelis killed in West Bank shooting attack

Only one day after the deadly clashes in Jenin between IDF forces and Palestinians, four Israelis were killed and four wounded in a shooting attack near the Eli West Bank settlement.

A Palestinian youth flashes the victory sign as tyre smoke billows during a protest by the border fence with Israel east of Gaza city on June 19, 2023 following an Israeli raid in the West Bank. Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank killed five Palestinians including a militant on June 19, in a raid that saw eight Israeli security personnel wounded and rare helicopter fire. (Photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel increasingly fears West Bank chaos, rise of Hamas

According to Israel’s strategic assessment, the era after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already started, although the Palestinian leader is still alive and still at the head of the government.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Jenin, West Bank

Five Palestinians killed in Israel's West Bank raid as Hamas leader visits Iran

The latest violence left five Palestinians dead and wounded at least 91 more, while the Israeli army said seven of its troops were injured in the fighting.

The West Bank city of Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp have frequently been the site of violent clashes between Israel and the Palestinians

Five Palestinians killed as Israel deploys helicopters in West Bank

Agence France-Presse

Palestinian relatives mourn during the funeral of Faris Hashash, 19, who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces at the Balata refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Nablus mourns Palestinian youth killed by Israeli forces

The West Bank city has been the site of several confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians this year.

Xi Jinping and Mahmoud Abbas

China’s Xi hosts Abbas, vows support for Palestinian state on 1967 borders

Xi used the word 'Palestine' as he welcomed Mahmoud Abbas on a visit that follows Beijing's offer to mediate peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (R) is helped with the headphones at the start of a joint press conference with Germany's Chancellor at the Chancellery in Berlin on August 16, 2022. (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER / AFP) (Photo by JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images)

Between Palestinian succession and Hamas, Fatah crisis deepens in West Bank

Factions of the embattled party are maneuvering for greater influence even while longtime president Mahmoud Abbas remains in power.

Palestinian municipality workers inspect the damage to the house of Islam Faroukh, a Palestinian charged for the Jerusalem twin bombings in November 2022 that killed two people, after it was demolished by Israeli forces in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on June 8, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Two Palestinian journalists shot during Israeli operation in West Bank

The incident follows a US senator calling on the Biden administration to declassify the report on Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli forces while covering a raid last year.

Mahmud Aloul of Fatah, pictured in March 2023

Top Fatah official warns of its 'decline' in West Bank

Agence France-Presse

Gaza economy

Delay in cashing Qatari aid slows Gaza economy

The delay in disbursing monthly aid to the Gaza Strip population is weighing on the economy, since the payments represent the sole source of income to some 100,000 families.

A Palestinian youth runs during confrontations with Israeli troops following a protest against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the occupied- West Bank, in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near the Jewish settlement of Kedumim, on May 19, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli settlers, Palestinians clash near Homesh in West Bank after EU visit

Reports of Israel's intention to move the makeshift yeshiva at the West Bank Homesh settlement to nearby state land have stoked tensions and clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.

Members of the Palestinian security forces stand guard outside the Legislative Council building.

Hamas upholds executions against three Palestinian ‘collaborators’ in Gaza

Rights organizations have repeatedly condemned Hamas for issuing and carrying out death sentences without the approval of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.